The world loves keeping an eye on celebrities, whether they are actors, musicians, or athletes. Maybe some of the celebrities you like come from Canada, and you don’t even know that they were Canadians who immigrated to America (or vice versa).
Here is a list with eighteen of the most famous Canadians that people know universally:
1. Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes was born in Toronto, Ontario on August 8, 1998. The young singer and songwriter released his first single, “Life of the Party”, in 2014. He quickly rose to fame, and he now has many young fans all around the world. He is currently one of the most famous Canadian musicians.
2. Celine Dion
Celine Dion was born in Charlemagne, Quebec on March 30, 1968. She is mostly known for singing “My Heart Will Go On”, the theme song for the movie “Titanic”, and she is one of the highest earning singers in the world. She remains one of the most famous Canadians in the past several decades.
3. Ryan Gosling
Ryan Thomas Gosling was born in London, Ontario on November 12, 1980. He started his career as a young actor in 1997, but his first breakthrough role was playing Noah in “The Notebook”, in 2004. He was one of the most famous Canadians back in the day, and remains relevant in celebrity culture today.
4. Jim Carrey
James Eugene Carrey, known as Jim Carrey, was born in Newmarket, Ontario on January 17, 1962. After being rejected many times as a stand-up performer, he rose to fame thanks to the movie “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” in 1994. As his career matures, Jim Carrey remains one of the most famous people that are Canadian.
5. Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé was born in Burnaby, British Columbia on September 9, 1975. The singer, songwriter and actor was inspired by jazz legends from his early childhood. His major break was in 2000, and he is now adored worldwide.
6. Ellen Page
Ellen Grace Philpotts-Page, known simply as Ellen Page, was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia on February 21, 1987. Her acting career took a new turn after she appeared in the movie “Juno” in 2007.
7. Shania Twain
Shania Twain was born Eilleen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario on August 28, 1965. The country pop singer’s third studio album, “Come on Over”, became one of the best selling albums in Canada. She is one of the most Canadian celebrities, and her songs are widely recognized across the country.
8. Mike Myers
Michael John Myers, who is known as Mike Myers, was born in Scarborough, Ontario on May 25, 1963. The actor, comedian, writer, producer and director began his career as a child actor, and he is now best known for the “Austin Power” movies.
9. Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Rodney Reynolds was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on October 23, 1976. He started acting in sitcoms in 1993, and eventually appeared in many movies, but his major breakthrough was the movie “Deadpool” in 2016.
10. Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland was born in London, England on December 21, 1966, but he moved to Toronto, Ontario with his mother in 1975. One of the first roles of the actor, producer and director was in “The Lost Boys” in 1987.
11. Michael J. Fox
Michael Andrew Fox, known as Michael J. Fox, was born in Edmonton, Alberta on June 9, 1961. The actor, producer and author became famous for his role of Marty McFly in the “Back to the Future” movie in 1985.
12. Rachel McAdams
Rachel Anne McAdams was born in London, Ontario on November 17, 1978. She rose to fame when she was cast in the teen comedy “Mean Girls”, and she also appeared in “The Notebook” and “Wedding Crashers”. McAdams marks her legacy as one of the most famous actors in Canada.
13. Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born in Brantford, Ontario on January 26, 1961. The former ice hockey player, who has been nicknamed “the Great One”, has played with a few different teams, including the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Rangers. During the peak of her fame, Gretzky was known as one of the most famous Canadians in the world of sports.
14. Bryan Adams
Bryan Guy Adams was born in Kingston, Ontario on November 5, 1959. The singer and songwriter dropped out of school to pursue his career in music, and he is mostly known for the songs “Everything I Do”, “Summer of 69” and “Here I Am”.
15. Hayden Christensen
Hayden Christensen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on April 19, 1981. He started acting at the age of 12, but his breakthrough came in 2002 when he was cast as Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones”.
16. Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell was born Roberta Joan Anderson in Fort Macleod, Alberta on November 7, 1943. The singer and songwriter rose to fame after releasing “Blue”, her fourth studio album, and many consider her to be one of the best songwriters of all time.
17. Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber was born in London, Ontario on March 1, 1994. The young singer and songwriter released his first EP, “My World”, in 2009, and he quickly rose to fame and became the best-selling male artist in Canada.
18. James Cameron
James Francis Cameron was born in Kapuskasing, Ontario on August 16, 1954. The acclaimed film director is also an environmentalist and a philantropist, and some of his most famous movies include “Titanic”, “Avatar”, “Terminator”, “The Abyss”, and “Aliens”.